Protests Over Proposed Highway in Bannerghatta National Park

February 8, 2024

The government has proposed constructing a 6-lane elevated highway through Bangalore’s Bannerghatta National Park, sparking protests from environmentalists concerned about the impacts on wildlife and habitat. Bannerghatta National Park is an important biodiversity hotspot home to endangered Asian elephants, tigers, and other species.

Project Overview

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to build a flyover along a 3.85 km stretch connecting Bannerghatta and Jigani Road as part of the Satellite Township Ring Road (STRR) project. The elevated highway would pass through 27.45 acres of the national park’s core area and 14 acres of the buffer zone. It aims to alleviate traffic congestion by linking seven towns around Bangalore. The NHAI has approval from the National Board of Wildlife and expects to complete construction by December 2025.

Environmental Concerns

Conservationists have raised alarms about potential impacts to wildlife and habitat. Bannerghatta National Park is a narrow protected area in some sections. The highway would reduce available elephant habitat and likely increase human-wildlife conflict with the park’s 100 resident elephants. The park also contains endangered tigers, leopards, dholes, and gaur. The project entails felling 1,288 trees in the corridor that cuts through prime elephant terrain. While the NHAI has agreed to noise barriers and restricted construction hours, activists say alternative routes avoiding the core protected area should be explored.

State Government Stand

The Karnataka state government is still reviewing the plan and seeking more information. The Forest Minister aims to find solutions that address traffic needs while protecting the park. The NHAI argues mitigation measures will be designed based on scientific studies of wildlife patterns. The government views the project as necessary to relieve congestion between Bannerghatta and Jigani.

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